Taking Generess Fe

When used as directed, Generess Fe is highly effective at preventing pregnancy and may give you short, lighter, predictable periods.1,2,* For Generess Fe to be most effective, you should take Generess Fe exactly as directed by your doctor.

Got questions? Get your answers here:

How do I take Generess Fe?

First, decide what time of day to take your pill. It's important that you remember to take your pill at the same time every day and in the order as directed on your blister pack.2 If you need help remembering to take your pill, set up a reminder on your mobile phone. Chew and swallow 1 pill without water at the same time every day.

Each Generess Fe blister pack contains 28 pills2

24 "active" light green pills with hormones for Weeks 1, 2, and 3, and the first part of Week 4

4 "inactive" brown pills without hormones for the remainder of Week 4. Taking these "reminder" pills each day will help you to remember when to start a new pack of pills

Be sure you have another kind of birth control, such as condoms or spermicides, ready to use as a backup in case you miss pills.2

When should I start Generess Fe?

You should talk to your doctor about which day is best for you to start taking Generess Fe.

If you start taking Generess Fe and have not used a hormonal birth control method before2:

Take the first light green pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period

You will not need to use a backup method of birth control because you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period. However, if you start on a day other than the first day of your period, use a backup method of birth control, such as condoms or spermicides, until you have taken a light green pill for 7 days in a row

After taking the last brown pill (Day 28) of the blister pack, start taking the first light green pill from a new blister pack the very next day whether or not you have your period

If you start taking Generess Fe and you are switching from a combination hormonal method such as another pill, vaginal ring, or patch2:

Take the first light green pill on the first day you would have started your previous birth control pack

If you previously used a vaginal ring or transdermal patch, finish the 21 days of use and wait 7 days after removal of the ring or transdermal patch before starting Generess Fe

Use a non-hormonal backup method, such as condoms or spermicides, for the first 7 days you take Generess Fe

If you start taking Generess Fe and you are switching from a progestin-only method such as a progestin-only pill, implant, intrauterine system, or injection2:

Take the first light green pill on the day you would have taken your next progestin-only pill or on the day of removal of your implant or intrauterine system or on the day when you would have had your next injection

Use a non-hormonal backup method, such as condoms or spermicides, for the first 7 days you take Generess Fe

What should I do if I miss any pills?

Your birth control may not be as effective if you miss any light green pills, especially if you miss the first few or the last few light green pills in a pack.2 Talk to your doctor if you have questions about missed pills.

If you MISS 1 light green pill2:

Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time.This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day

You do not need to use a backup birth control method if you have sex

If you MISS 2 light green pills in a row in WEEK 1 or WEEK 2 of your pack2:

Take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day

Then take 1 pill a day until you finish the pack

You could become pregnant if you have sex during the 7 days after you restart your pills. You must use a non-hormonal birth control method, such as condoms or spermicides, as a backup for those 7 days after you restart your pills

If you MISS 2 light green pills in a row in WEEK 3 or WEEK 4 of your pack2:

Throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day

You could become pregnant if you have sex during the 7 days after you restart your pills. You must use a non-hormonal birth control method, such as condoms or spermicides, as a backup for those 7 days after you restart your pills

If you MISS 3 OR MORE light green pills in a row at any time2:

Throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day

You could become pregnant if you have sex on the days when you missed pills or during the first 7 days after restarting your pills. You must use a non-hormonal birth control method, such as condoms or spermicides, as a backup method the next time you have sex and for the first 7 days after you restart your pills

If you forget any of the 4 brown reminder pills in WEEK 42:

Throw away the pills you missed

Keep taking 1 pill each day until the pack is finished

You do not need to use a backup method of birth control

It's important to understand that you may already be pregnant or could become pregnant if you had sex on the days after the pills were missed. The more pills missed and the closer they are to the end of your menstrual cycle, the higher your risk of pregnancy.2

If you are not sure of what to do about the pills you have missed, you should call your doctor. Use a backup method of birth control, such as condoms or spermicides, anytime you have sex and keep taking 1 pill each day. You should call your doctor if you are unsure whether you are already pregnant.2

+-References

What is Generess® Fe?

Generess Fe is a prescription birth control pill used for the prevention of pregnancy.

IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION

WARNING TO WOMEN WHO SMOKE

Do not use Generess® Fe if you smoke cigarettes and are over 35 years old. Smoking increases your risk of serious
cardiovascular side effects (heart and blood vessel problems) from birth control pills, including death from heart attack,
blood clots, or stroke. This risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes you smoke.

Who should not take Generess Fe?

Do not use Generess Fe if you have kidney, liver, or adrenal disease because this could cause serious heart and health problems, or if you have or have had blood clots, history of heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure that medicine cannot control, breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to female hormones, liver disease or liver tumors, unexplained bleeding from the vagina, or if you are or may be pregnant.

What else should I know about taking Generess Fe?

Treatment with Generess Fe should be stopped if you have a blood clot, and at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery. You should not take Generess Fe any earlier than 4 weeks after having a baby or if you are breastfeeding. If you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes due to problems with your liver, you should stop taking Generess Fe. If you are pre-diabetic or diabetic, your doctor should monitor you while using Generess Fe and should evaluate you if you have any significant change in headaches or irregular menstrual bleeding.

What are the most serious risks of taking Generess Fe?

Generess Fe increases the risk of serious conditions including blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. These can be life-threatening or lead to permanent disability.